Inter Transfer Market: Bastoni Doesn’t Rule Out a Move to the Middle East; Replacement Identified—He’s a World Cup Star
Alessandro Bastoni’s future is back in the spotlight following the latest offer from Saudi Arabia—specifically from Al Hilal, led by his former mentor Simone Inzaghi. The Saudi club has presented a substantial offer to the player, whose contract with Inter expires in 2028, in an attempt to convince him to move to the Middle East.
Bastoni had already turned down an offer from the Saudi League last year, but now the chances of striking a deal appear more concrete. The player’s agent, Tullio Tinti, told Sky: “My players and I usually honor our contracts; he still has two years left on his contract and is in love with Inter. Right now, he’s not thinking about moving to another club, but if there are interested clubs that satisfy both Inter and the player, we can sit down and talk. At the moment, there are no negotiations underway.”
Should Bastoni leave, Inter will need to find at least one world-class defender to replace him. And at the top of the list is one of the finalists from the last World Cup, Argentine center back Cristian Romero. The Nerazzurri have reportedly already inquired about the Tottenham player’s price tag, estimated at around 50 million euros. Competition for him is fierce, with Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, and Barcelona all said to be in the running. At Inter, he would be reunited with his national teammate Lautaro Martínez.
The Nerazzurri club’s stance has always been clear and has been reiterated several times over the course of the summer. Sporting director Piero Ausilio had already put the matter to rest in recent weeks: “Bastoni has a contract with Inter, and there are no circumstances that would suggest Bastoni is leaving Inter. If anyone is interested in him, let them call us—they know our phone numbers—and not just talk.” President Beppe Marotta echoed this sentiment, stating: “Bastoni is a talent; he’s been unlucky in certain situations. He’s a great champion, and major clubs are keeping a close eye on him. But he wants to stay. We’re happy.”
